Everton Loan news - 16/05/2015

Gethin Jones and Chris Long both signed off their loan spells with play-off defeat this week, missing out on Wembley outings.

Right-back Jones joined the Pilgrims in late March and the deal was subsequently extended until the end of the campaign.

Argyle were pushing for promotion to League One and finished in the play-off places, where they would face Wycombe Wanderers for a spot at Wembley.

Yet after losing the first leg at home 3-2, Jones’ loan side then suffered a 2-1 defeat at Adams Park on Thursday to bow out 5-3 on aggregate.

The Wales Under-21 international was an unused substitute in the second leg, despite having made seven appearances in his short time on the south coast.

Meanwhile, Chris Long hoped to go one better the next evening and help Brentford reach the Championship play-off final.

The striker, who made his senior Everton debut alongside Jones in December, had been with the Bees since 20 January and returned to Griffin Park this week following a slight injury.

He missed the first leg of their semi-final against Middlesbrough, with the Teeside outfit grabbing a 2-1 advantage.

However, having netted four goals in 10 appearances for Mark Warburton’s side, Long hoped to help overturn the deficit at the Riverside Stadium, but his emergence from the bench on 71 minutes was too late as the Bees fell to a 3-0 defeat on the night.

Elsewhere, Conor Grant is now the sole remaining Toffee out on loan, with his side Motherwell facing an anxious end to the season.

The Scottish Premiership outfit are currently 11th in the 12-team table, a position that requires a play-off against a Scottish Championship side to determine whether they will be relegated.

The North Lanarkshire side can still lift themselves from such danger in the final two games - at St Mirren on Saturday and at home to Partick Thistle a week later.

Ian Baraclough’s men are currently three points behind Ross County.

Keep an eye on evertonfc.com for updates on Everton’s loaned-out youngsters.